초록 ▼

A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine includes a common rail, a plurality of accumulator injectors, and at least one accumulator controller separate from the accumulator injectors and connected to the common rail. Each accumulator controller includes a solenoid-controlled valve t

A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine includes a common rail, a plurality of accumulator injectors, and at least one accumulator controller separate from the accumulator injectors and connected to the common rail. Each accumulator controller includes a solenoid-controlled valve to control the fuel injection operations of one or more accumulator injectors.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A fuel injection system, comprising: a fuel supply for supplying fuel at pressure; at least one accumulator injector; a fuel line connected to the accumulator injector; an accumulator controller connected to the fuel supply and to the fuel line; the accumulator controll

The invention claimed is: 1. A fuel injection system, comprising: a fuel supply for supplying fuel at pressure; at least one accumulator injector; a fuel line connected to the accumulator injector; an accumulator controller connected to the fuel supply and to the fuel line; the accumulator controller having a first state for feeding fuel into the fuel line at a first pressure that charges the at least one accumulator injector and a second state for returning fuel from the fuel line at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure and initiates injection by the at least one accumulator injector. 2. A fuel injection system, comprising: a fuel supply for supplying fuel at pressure; at least one pair of accumulator injector mechanisms; a pair of fuel lines, each connected to a respective one of the accumulator injector mechanisms; an accumulator controller connected to the fuel supply and to the pair of fuel lines; the accumulator controller having a first state for feeding fuel into the pair of fuel lines at a first pressure that charges the at least one pair of accumulator injectors and a second state for returning fuel from the pair of fuel lines at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure and initiates injection by the at least one pair of accumulator injectors. 3. The fuel injection system of claim 2, in which the accumulator controller includes an inlet port for connection to the fuel supply, one or more output ports in communication with the inlet port, a return port, and a solenoid-controlled valve, the solenoid-controlled valve disconnecting the return port from the inlet and injection ports when closed and connecting the return port to the inlet and injection ports when open. 4. The fuel injection system of claim 3, in which the fuel supply includes: a fuel pump; a common rail connected to the fuel pump; a fuel line connecting the common rail to the inlet port; and a fuel line connecting the return port to a fuel supply return. 5. A fuel injection system, comprising: a common rail for providing fuel at a fuel pressure; an accumulation volume connected to the common rail; a solenoid-controlled valve disposed to control the accumulation volume; the solenoid-controlled valve having a first state for causing fuel to accumulate in the accumulation volume at the fuel pressure and a second state for spilling the fuel from the accumulation volume; at least one accumulator injector separate from the accumulation volume and the solenoid-controlled valve; and a fuel line coupling the at least one accumulator injector to the accumulation volume. 6. The fuel injection system of claim 5, including two accumulator injectors and two fuel lines, each fuel line coupling a respective accumulator injector to the accumulation volume. 7. The fuel injection system of claim 5, further comprising a manifold containing the accumulation volume, the manifold including an inlet port in communication with the accumulation volume, one or more output ports in communication with the accumulation volume, and a return port, the solenoid controlled valve positioned in the manifold to disconnect the return port from the accumulation volume when closed and to connect the return port to the accumulation volume when open. 8. A fuel injection system, comprising: a common rail for providing fuel at a fuel pressure; at least one accumulator injector; a fuel line connected to the accumulator injector; an accumulator controller connected to the common rail and the fuel line; the accumulator controller having a first state for feeding fuel into the fuel line at a first pressure that charges the at least one accumulator injector and a second state for returning fuel from the fuel line at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure and initiates injection by the at least one accumulator injector. 9. The fuel injection system of claim 8, in which the accumulator controller includes an inlet port for connection to the common rail, one or more output ports in communication with the inlet port, a return port, and a solenoid-controlled valve, the solenoid-controlled valve disconnecting the return port from the inlet and injection ports when closed and connecting the return port to the inlet and injection ports when open. 10. The fuel injection system of claim 9, further including: a fuel pump connected to the common rail; a fuel line connecting the common rail to the inlet port; and a fuel line connecting the return port to a fuel supply return. 11. The fuel injection system of claim 8, in which the accumulator controller comprises: a manifold; a solenoid-controlled valve received in the manifold; an accumulation volume defined in the manifold; an inlet port on the manifold in communication with the accumulation volume; one or more outlet ports on the manifold in communication with the accumulation volume; and a return port on the manifold; the solenoid-controlled valve disconnecting the return port from the accumulation volume when closed and connecting the return port to the accumulation volume when open. 12. An internal combustion engine, comprising: a plurality of cylinders; an engine control unit; a fuel supply; and for each cylinder: at least one accumulator injector communicating with the cylinder; a fuel line connected to the accumulator injector; an accumulator controller connected to the fuel supply, to the fuel line, and to the engine control unit; the accumulator controller responsive to the engine control unit for assuming a first state to feed fuel into the fuel line at a first pressure that charges the at least one accumulator injector and for assuming a second state to return fuel from the fuel line at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure and initiates injection by the at least one accumulator injector. 13. The internal combustion engine of claim 12, in which the accumulator controller includes an inlet port for connection to the fuel supply, one or more outlet ports in communication with the inlet port, a return port, and a solenoid-controlled valve connected to the engine control unit, the solenoid controlled valve disconnecting the return port from the inlet and outlet ports when closed and connecting the return port to the inlet and outlet ports when open. 14. The internal combustion engine of claim 13, in which the fuel supply includes: a fuel pump; a common rail coupled to the fuel pump; and for each accumulator controller, a fuel line connecting the common rail to the inlet port, and a fuel line connecting the return port to a fuel supply return. 15. An internal combustion engine, comprising: a plurality of cylinders; an engine control unit; a common rail for providing fuel at a fuel pressure; and for each cylinder: an accumulation volume coupled to the common rail; a solenoid-controlled valve connected to the engine control unit and disposed to control the accumulation volume; the solenoid-controlled valve responsive to a signal produced by the engine control unit for assuming a first state for causing fuel to accumulate in the accumulation volume at the fuel pressure or a second state for spilling the fuel from the accumulation volume; at least one accumulator injector separate from the accumulation volume and the solenoid-controlled valve; a fuel line connecting the at least one accumulator injector to the accumulation volume. 16. The engine of claim 15, including, for each cylinder, two accumulator injectors and two fuel lines, each fuel line coupling a respective accumulator injector to an accumulation volume. 17. The engine of claim 16, further comprising, for each cylinder, a manifold containing an accumulation volume, the manifold including an inlet port in communication with the accumulation volume, one or more output ports in communication with the accumulation volume, and a return port, the solenoid controlled valve positioned in the manifold to disconnect the return port from the accumulation volume when closed and to connect the return port to the accumulation volume when open. 18. An internal combustion engine, comprising: a plurality of cylinders; an engine control unit; a common rail for providing fuel at a fuel pressure; for each cylinder: at least one accumulator injector; a fuel line connected to the accumulator injector; an accumulator controller connected to the engine control unit, the common rail and the fuel line; the accumulator controller responsive to a signal produced by the engine control unit for assuming a first state to feed fuel into the fuel line at a first pressure that charges the at least one accumulator injector or a second state to return fuel from the fuel line at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure and initiates injection by the at least one accumulator injector. 19. The engine of claim 18, in which each accumulator controller includes an inlet port for connection to the common rail, one or more output ports in communication with the inlet port, a return port, and a solenoid-controlled valve, the solenoid-controlled valve disconnecting the return port from the inlet and injection ports when closed and connecting the return port to the inlet and injection ports when open. 20. The engine of claim 19, further including: a fuel pump connected to the common rail; and for each accumulator controller: a fuel line connecting the common rail to the inlet port of the accumulator controller; and a fuel line connecting the return port of the accumulator controller to a fuel supply return.